Samuels, Ramdin thwart England at Edgbaston

June 10, 2012 00:20 IST

Marlon Samuels again sparkled with the bat and Denesh Ramdin made an unbeaten half-century to lead West Indies to 280 for eight on the first day of action in the third and final Test against England on Saturday.

After the opening two days were washed out by rain, Graham Onions and Tim Bresnan claimed three wickets apiece after the home team won the toss and decided to field but Samuels and Ramdin made sure West Indies chalked up a respectable score at Edgbaston.

Samuels continued his fine form in the series with 76 while wicketkeeper Ramdin was 60 not out at the close and Ravi Rampaul undefeated on two.

England, seeking a 3-0 sweep in the series, rested Stuart Broad having already used the rotation policy to give their other leading fast bowler James Anderson a break ahead of the Tests against South Africa next month.

West Indies made four changes. Shivnarine Chanderpaul missed out with a side injury and was replaced by Narsingh Deonarine while the out of form Kirk Edwards's place was taken by debutant Assad Fudadin.

Off-spinner Sunil Narine was also given his debut and fast bowler Tino Best is making his first Test appearance in three years.

Samuels came in at 99 for three and he was a calm, assured presence at the crease, having made 31, 86, 117 and 76 not out earlier in the series.

He was eventually trapped lbw by Bresnan but had again demonstrated his new-found maturity as a batsman.

This effort was more fluent than his previous innings as he faced just 114 balls. Samuels went to his half-century by lofting spinner Graeme Swann over mid-wicket for six and driving him through cover for four in consecutive balls.

West Indies lost wickets at regular intervals throughout the day, the first batsman going when Keiran Powell was dismissed by Bresnan for 24.

Fellow opener Adrian Barath was dropped twice by Ian Bell at third slip before falling to Onions for 41.

The left-handed Fudadin went in at number three and he made a composed 28 before being unsettled by a nasty bouncer by Bresnan, allowing Bell to pouch an easy catch.

It is the first time in 48 years a Test in England has lost the opening two days to the weather.